Philadelphia Atoms facts for kids
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| Full name | Philadelphia Atoms | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Atoms | ||
| Founded | 1973 | ||
| Dissolved | 1976 | ||
| Stadium | Veterans Stadium (1973–75) Franklin Field (1976) Philadelphia, PA |
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| Owner(s) | Thomas McCloskey | ||
| Head Coach | Al Miller | ||
| League | NASL | ||
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The Philadelphia Atoms were a professional soccer team from Philadelphia, USA. They played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1973 to 1976. Their home games were held at Veterans Stadium and Franklin Field. The team's colors were blue and white. The Atoms were famous for winning the NASL championship in their very first year! After the Atoms, another team called the Philadelphia Fury played in Philadelphia starting in 1978.
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The Atoms' Story
The Philadelphia Atoms team was started in 1973 by Thomas McCloskey, a builder from Philadelphia. He was encouraged by Lamar Hunt, who owned other soccer teams. The Atoms were special because they mostly played with American players.
In their first year, 1973, the Atoms had an amazing season! They won the NASL championship by beating Lamar Hunt's Dallas team 2–0. After this big win, their goalkeeper, Bob Rigby, became the first soccer player to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. He was from Ridley Park, Pennsylvania.
Challenges After the First Season
Sadly, the Atoms could not keep up their success after their first year. They did not make it to the playoffs in the next three NASL seasons. Fewer and fewer fans came to watch their games. After the 1975 season, the team was sold to a group of Mexican clubs, including Club Deportivo Guadalajara.
The new owners mostly used Mexican players, similar to how Chivas USA would later play in Major League Soccer. But attendance kept going down. The club eventually stopped playing after the 1976 season.
There was a plan to move the Atoms team to San Antonio. The Mexican owners wanted them to replace the San Antonio Thunder team, which had moved to Honolulu. But this plan never happened. The NASL then took control of the Philadelphia team. Two years later, the Philadelphia Fury team started playing in Philadelphia in 1978.
Indoor Soccer's Beginning
The Atoms also played a part in the start of modern indoor soccer in the United States. On February 11, 1974, they played an exhibition match against the Soviet Red Army team. This game was held at the Spectrum arena.
Almost 12,000 fans cheered loudly that night. The Atoms played well against the strong Russian team. The Soviet Red Army team eventually won 6–3. The next year, the NASL held its first league-wide indoor tournament. Within a few years, both the NASL and the MISL had full indoor seasons.
In 2017, a new team called Philadelphia Atoms SC began playing in the American Soccer League. This new club says it carries on the history and colors of the original Atoms.
Team Achievements
The Philadelphia Atoms earned several awards and honors during their time.
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NASL Championships
NASL Division Titles
NASL Rookie of the Year
NASL Coach of the Year
NASL Leading Goaltender
U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame
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All-Star First Team Selections
All-Star Second Team Selections
All-Star Honorable Mentions
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Head Coaches
Al Miller (1973–1975)
Images for kids
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The full logo of the Philadelphia Atoms.
See also
In Spanish: Philadelphia Atoms para niños
- Philadelphia Fury
- Philadelphia Spartans
- Philadelphia Union
